Biography: Ernie Barrett
Aug 23, 2004 | General
First as an All-America basketball player, later as the athletics director and now as a fund-raiser, Ernie Barrett has more than earned the title of "Mr. K-State" during his six decades of involvement with the athletics department.
Barrett serves as the athletics department’s director of development and spearheaded the $5.5 million drive for the five-story Dev Nelson Press Box and indoor football facility. He also has been the driving force behind the newly completed Learning and Academic Center located at the Vanier Football Complex, the renovation of Ahearn Field House for women’s volleyball and the construction of the women’s basketball offices at the Foundation building.
Barrett accepted that position in January of 1991 after working as a consultant in the department’s portion of the Essential Edge Campaign, a university-wide project with a goal of raising $100 million, including $15 million for the athletics department.
Barrett’s fund-raising efforts for the department actually began in 1961 when he made the transition from assistant basketball coach to assistant athletics director. He later served as KSU’s athletics director from 1969-1976 and spearheaded fund-raising campaigns for KSU Stadium, the athletics dormitory, artificial turf, the R.V. Christian Track and Field Complex, Dev Nelson Press Box, the indoor football facility, the Academic Learning Center, Colbert Hills Golf Course and the new baseball stadium.
Barrett began his K-State basketball career in 1947 and capped it by earning All-America honors and captained the Cats to the NCAA Championship game in 1951. Following the championship game, he played in the East-West All-Star game in Madison Square Gardens, where he was voted Most Valuable Player. Barrett was a first round draft choice and played professionally for the legendary Boston Celtics. He and his wife, Bonnie, have two sons, Brad and Duane (deceased).
